was something I told James whenever I had the chance. Now that I knew what the fuck love was, I wasn’t taking it for granted.
As I hung up, I couldn’t help thinking that it was shitty that, in another world where what we did wasn’t an issue, James would have been with Tex and me at the fair, and we would have been holding hands, and sharing cotton candy, and I would have won him his own stuffed bear, or watched him try to win one…or hell, maybe like so many other times in our relationship, he’d surprise me and win something.
Patience. We were nearing the finish line, and once we got there, we would have the whole world.
“Was that him?” Tex asked as he stepped up to me, a knowing grin on his face.
“Who?”
He shook his head. “Don’t tell me I’m gonna find out about this guy when I’m walking you down the aisle. I don’t know that that’s the best time.”
“Don’t be ridiculous, Tex. I’d tell you at least so you can get a decent suit.”
As I handed him his bear, he said, “Well, now that you’re all grown up, making plans to go to South America, you’re gonna be ditching this old man sooner rather than later.”
“Tex, that would never happen,” I said, serious as ever.
His expression relaxed. “Oh, I was just kidding, buddy.”
“You were kind of kidding.”
His gaze shifted. “It did scare me when you mentioned it. All these secrets, and then this mysterious trip.”
“I don’t like keeping things from you.”
“Kylie, I know that. I haven’t pressed because I didn’t want to put that on you when I can tell, whatever it is, it’s making you the happiest kid alive and also one of the most stressed. I’d just like you to be able to keep the happy and lose the rest.”
“We’re getting there. Very soon.”
He smirked, but I could see the concern in his expression. How could he not have been when he didn’t have a clue what the truth really was?
“I’m sure you have your reasons, but just know, whatever they are, I’m here for you when you’re ready.”
“I know that. Would never doubt it.”
He put his arm around me and kissed my forehead, reminding me of the way he used to when I was a kid.
We enjoyed a few more rides before heading to the ice-cream stand, as we had always done, not only at the fair, but during our secret ice-cream runs, when he would promise my dad that he definitely wouldn’t be getting me any ice cream, even though he most definitely would.
At a nearby stand, when it was finally our turn in line, Tex told the woman behind the counter, “Two scoops of the strawberry for me…” He eyed me for a moment. “Should I take a guess at what you want, or have you changed that much?”
“Some things never change.”
He cracked a smile, turning back to the cashier. “And a vanilla, two scoops, with fudge and Ree—Ree—”
It sounded like he might have gotten something caught in his throat, or just forgotten how to say Reese’s cups.
“Cat got your tongue?” I asked before he turned and I noticed his stiff, disoriented expression.
More than what was happening, though, I had this foreboding feeling in the pit of my gut.
Something was very wrong.
Panic coursed through me as he reached out to me, terror in his eyes.
“Tex?”
He was all shivers as he collapsed to the ground, with me doing my best to brace his fall.
Holy fuck, holy fuck.
“Tex? Tex?”
I wasn’t thinking clearly, or quickly enough, but as people gathered around, I was just glad that I was pulling out my phone, dialing 911.
41
James
I’d abandoned Kendra and my other fellow faculty friends at the restaurant, rushing to the Wyachet Hospital. Every light along the way, every stop sign, even the hospital parking garage, agitated the hell out of me.
Tex was hurt, and that meant Kyle would be hurting too.
I hurried to the reception desk of the floor Kyle had texted me to meet him at.
“I’m here for Tex Harris,” I told the receptionist, who pointed me in the right direction. I found the waiting area, a room with about a dozen chairs and a large table in one corner. Kyle sat, hands covering his face before he lowered them, revealing how red it was and tear-streaked. When his gaze set on mine, he pushed to his feet and hurried over.
There was no one else in the room, so I didn’t have to stop him